U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Water & Air Research, Inc. was awarded a Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to serve as an independent technical expert offering input and participate in Local Intergovernmental Team (LIT) and local citizen group meetings for the Cabot/Koppers Superfund site in Gainesville, FL. This task order required the knowledge of hydrogeology, geology, water quality, remediation, and environmental regulations such as Superfund, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Clean Water Act, and the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection Risk-Based Corrective Action (RBCA) regulations governing soil, sediment, and groundwater.
The Water & Air Technical Advisor was tasked to review complex technical documents, preliminary site investigations, health risk assessments, and proposed EPA cleanup remedies. The findings were translated into clear plain language for the community grant recipient groups. The primary goal was to help community members fully understand the science, risks, and proposed cleanup plans so they can actively participate in the EPA decision-making process.
Tasks included attending technical working group meetings with City and County staff, monthly Cabot/Koppers site status calls and onsite meetings, reviewing and commenting on studies and designs, participating at public meetings, and responding to resident questions about site activity. Written summaries were provided to the EPA after each meeting along with monthly status reports.